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52. Hidden Secret about Airbnb Hot Locations
Want to learn how to launch an Airbnb? Join the Launch Party and get 20% off of all products! Promocode: LAUNCHPARTY
Episode Summary
Hey friends, it’s Brittany Wenninger with Front Porch Realty powered by Real Broker LLC, and in today’s episode I’m giving you a very real life update (hi, stress!) and then diving into one of the BIGGEST misconceptions about choosing the right location for your Airbnb. Everyone thinks the best rentals are smack-dab in the heart of a big city—near stadiums, shops, and all the hustle. But honestly? The most consistent and most profitable performers are almost always outside the big cities.
I walk you through why regulations in major cities are risky, the psychology of why guests CRAVE peaceful spaces, and how looking just 10–20 minutes outside the hot spots gives you more freedom, better booking rates, and less competition. I also spill one of my biggest investor secrets: the difference between mailing address and municipality, and why that one detail can make or break your STR strategy.
And of course… I share some behind-the-scenes chaos from renovating two Airbnbs at once, waiting on delayed neon signs, and trying to hit photo-day deadlines while losing my mind. 😅
Key Takeaways
• Smaller surrounding townships often allow STRs with far fewer restrictions—and rarely change their rules.
• Guests LOVE peaceful, quiet, memory-making stays: cabins, lakes, farmland, ski-hill cottages, tiny homes, etc.
• Properties just 10–20 minutes outside a major city can outperform because they offer relaxation and convenience.
• Wisconsin Dells, Madison, NYC—all have strict STR limitations, but townships right outside their borders are often STR-friendly.
• Your mailing address ≠ municipality, and municipality is what determines your STR rules.
• Many investors are completely overlooking township opportunities—giving you a massive leg-up.
• You can still design your rural Airbnb with a “big city feel” to attract urban travelers.
• Less competition outside the city means your calendar is more likely to stay booked.
• My secret investor hack: always check the municipality FIRST before assuming a property’s STR rules.
Airbnb Roadmap Accelerator Course
Why Listen to This Episode?
If you’ve been scrolling Zillow thinking, “I’ll never be able to get an Airbnb inside a major city,” you’re not wrong—but you also don’t need to. This episode shows you exactly where to look instead, how to strategize smart, and how you can get into STRs without fighting every investor in your area.
Plus, if you’ve been overwhelmed with location decisions, this will simplify your search and give you clarity on what actually books year-round.
Mentioned in the Episode
Let’s Connect
Thinking about buying an Airbnb outside the big city? DM me on Instagram at @theairbnbroadmap with your questions or share what areas you’re exploring! I’d love to cheer you on and help you out.
Work With Me
Ready to find, launch, or scale your short-term rental? Whether you need help finding a property, analyzing a deal, or understanding regulations, I’ve got you.
👉 Message me on Instagram @theairbnbroadmap or visit the newly updated website to get started.
Chapters
00:00 – Life update: sauna delays, neon sign drama & renovation chaos
02:30 – Website revamp + launch party teasing
05:50 – Why everyone assumes Airbnbs belong in big cities
07:20 – The hidden power of small towns and slower-paced areas
08:50 – The pressure + risk of investing inside major cities
10:20 – Why rural + lakeside getaways practically book themselves
11:30 – My challenge: look outside the big cities
13:39 – Phone call interruption 😂
14:05 – City vs. peaceful travel: what guests actually want
15:53 – Thinking outside the box when choosing location
17:22 – Another phone call (classic Brittany moment)
18:18 – NYC, Madison, Dells: examples of harsh city STR rules
19:10 – Less competition outside the city = more bookings
20:20 – The game-changing secret: mailing address vs municipality
22:00 – How to check municipality on your own
23:00 – A new Airbnb resort for sale in La Crosse
26:00 – Final thoughts + where to learn more
Subscribe and Share
If you loved today’s episode, hit subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s! And please share this with a friend who’s looking for an STR but doesn’t know where to start. It helps more than you know! 💛
View all episodes
By Brittany WenningerWant to learn how to launch an Airbnb? Join the Launch Party and get 20% off of all products! Promocode: LAUNCHPARTY
Episode Summary
Hey friends, it’s Brittany Wenninger with Front Porch Realty powered by Real Broker LLC, and in today’s episode I’m giving you a very real life update (hi, stress!) and then diving into one of the BIGGEST misconceptions about choosing the right location for your Airbnb. Everyone thinks the best rentals are smack-dab in the heart of a big city—near stadiums, shops, and all the hustle. But honestly? The most consistent and most profitable performers are almost always outside the big cities.
I walk you through why regulations in major cities are risky, the psychology of why guests CRAVE peaceful spaces, and how looking just 10–20 minutes outside the hot spots gives you more freedom, better booking rates, and less competition. I also spill one of my biggest investor secrets: the difference between mailing address and municipality, and why that one detail can make or break your STR strategy.
And of course… I share some behind-the-scenes chaos from renovating two Airbnbs at once, waiting on delayed neon signs, and trying to hit photo-day deadlines while losing my mind. 😅
Key Takeaways
• Smaller surrounding townships often allow STRs with far fewer restrictions—and rarely change their rules.
• Guests LOVE peaceful, quiet, memory-making stays: cabins, lakes, farmland, ski-hill cottages, tiny homes, etc.
• Properties just 10–20 minutes outside a major city can outperform because they offer relaxation and convenience.
• Wisconsin Dells, Madison, NYC—all have strict STR limitations, but townships right outside their borders are often STR-friendly.
• Your mailing address ≠ municipality, and municipality is what determines your STR rules.
• Many investors are completely overlooking township opportunities—giving you a massive leg-up.
• You can still design your rural Airbnb with a “big city feel” to attract urban travelers.
• Less competition outside the city means your calendar is more likely to stay booked.
• My secret investor hack: always check the municipality FIRST before assuming a property’s STR rules.
Airbnb Roadmap Accelerator Course
Why Listen to This Episode?
If you’ve been scrolling Zillow thinking, “I’ll never be able to get an Airbnb inside a major city,” you’re not wrong—but you also don’t need to. This episode shows you exactly where to look instead, how to strategize smart, and how you can get into STRs without fighting every investor in your area.
Plus, if you’ve been overwhelmed with location decisions, this will simplify your search and give you clarity on what actually books year-round.
Mentioned in the Episode
Let’s Connect
Thinking about buying an Airbnb outside the big city? DM me on Instagram at @theairbnbroadmap with your questions or share what areas you’re exploring! I’d love to cheer you on and help you out.
Work With Me
Ready to find, launch, or scale your short-term rental? Whether you need help finding a property, analyzing a deal, or understanding regulations, I’ve got you.
👉 Message me on Instagram @theairbnbroadmap or visit the newly updated website to get started.
Chapters
00:00 – Life update: sauna delays, neon sign drama & renovation chaos
02:30 – Website revamp + launch party teasing
05:50 – Why everyone assumes Airbnbs belong in big cities
07:20 – The hidden power of small towns and slower-paced areas
08:50 – The pressure + risk of investing inside major cities
10:20 – Why rural + lakeside getaways practically book themselves
11:30 – My challenge: look outside the big cities
13:39 – Phone call interruption 😂
14:05 – City vs. peaceful travel: what guests actually want
15:53 – Thinking outside the box when choosing location
17:22 – Another phone call (classic Brittany moment)
18:18 – NYC, Madison, Dells: examples of harsh city STR rules
19:10 – Less competition outside the city = more bookings
20:20 – The game-changing secret: mailing address vs municipality
22:00 – How to check municipality on your own
23:00 – A new Airbnb resort for sale in La Crosse
26:00 – Final thoughts + where to learn more
Subscribe and Share
If you loved today’s episode, hit subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s! And please share this with a friend who’s looking for an STR but doesn’t know where to start. It helps more than you know! 💛